Photo caption: (from right) Allen Okamoto presents Jim Park (second from right with his family) with the AREAA’s 2010 Real Estate Person of the Year Award.

LOS ANGELES – Jim J. Park, current president of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), has recently been named AREAA’s 2010 Real Estate Person of the Year at the 5th Annual Asian American Real Estate Convention & Gala.

Over the past 20 years, Park has held housing-related positions in the public and private sectors, including the Federal Housing Administration and Freddie Mac. He has worked on behalf of community development agencies around the country to advance sustainable homeownership and community revitalization efforts. He is an appointed member of the Federal Reserve’s Consumer Advisory Council, chairman of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies and is the co-founder of New Vista Asset Management and Community Asset Solutions, creating homeownership solutions for multicultural professionals and homebuyers.

Park also participates on numerous boards of national non-profit organizations dedicated to expanding homeownership opportunities for underserved communities, and he is one of the founders and past-president of National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development.

Under Park’s leadership, AREAA grew to national prominence with over 12,000 members and 15 local chapters. AREAA has become a strong policy voice and advocate for Asian American homebuyers, spearheading legislative change to allow Asians and immigrants fair credit access. Some highlights during his leadership include establishing the AREAA Education Foundation, which aims to develop future leaders and provide resources to homeowners in need, the launch of a | r | e magazine, and the growth of AREAA’s annual convention to become one of the largest professional multicultural events in the nation.

“AREAA is proud to recognize Jim Park for his commitment to sustainable homeownership for all people,” said Allen Okamoto, founding chair of AREAA and AREAA’s 2008 Real Estate Person of the Year. “Jim is a dedicated leader with a vision to take AREAA and the real estate industry to the next level to ensure that everyone has a fair shot at the American dream.”

“I am truly humbled to receive such a prestigious award,” Park said. “At AREAA, we have made great progress in bringing opportunities to the real estate profession and to Asian American consumers. Even in this economic climate, I remain excited about our work and our role in advocating for our industry and our communities.”

With more than 12,000 members in 38 states, AREAA (www.areaa.org) is the only trade organization that represents the diverse Asian American community and gives Asian real estate professionals a voice in the various policy and business discussions that affect the real estate market and Asian American consumers.